Memory for musical tempo: Additional evidence that auditory memory is absolute

Author(s): Cook, P. R.

Journal/Book: Percept Psychophys. 1996; 58: 1710 Fortview Rd, Austin, TX 78704. Psychonomic Soc Inc. 927-935.

Abstract: We report evidence that long-term memory retains absolute (accurate) features of perceptual events. Specifically, we show that memory for music seems to preserve the absolute tempo of the musical performance. In Experiment 1, 46 subjects sang two different popular songs from memory, and their tempos were compared with recorded versions of the,songs. Seventy-two percent of the productions on two consecutive trials came within 8% of the actual tempo, demonstrating accuracy near the perceptual threshold (JND) for tempo. In Experiment 2, a control experiment, we found that folk songs lacking a tempo standard generally have a large variability in tempo; this counters arguments that memory for the tempo of remembered songs is driven by articulatory constraints. The relevance of the present findings to theories of perceptual memory and memory for music is discussed.

Note: Article DJ Levitin, Univ Oregon, Dept Psychol 1227, Eugene, OR 97403 USA

Keyword(s): FAMILIAR SONGS; PERCEPTION; PITCH; MELODIES; PATTERNS; RHYTHM; MODEL; TIME

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